Brazil's Willian smiles as he listens to a question during a press conference at the Granja Comary training center in Teresopolis, Brazil, Sunday, July 6, 2014. Brazil will face Germany on Tuesday in their World Cup semifinals' match, without superstar soccer player Neymar. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) ORG XMIT: XLC105

Photo: Leo Correa

Brazil's Willian smiles as he listens to a question during a press...

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Brazil's Neymar lies inside a medical helicopter at the Granja Comary training center, in Teresopolis, Brazil, Saturday, July 5, 2014. Neymar was airlifted from Brazil's training camp Saturday and will be treated at home for his back injury. Neymar, the biggest football star in Brazil, was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after fracturing his third vertebra during Friday's 2-1 quarterfinal win over Colombia. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) ORG XMIT: XLC101

Photo: Leo Correa

Brazil's Neymar lies inside a medical helicopter at the Granja...

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Brazil's Bernard runs with the ball during a practice session at the Granja Comary training center, in Teresopolis, Brazil, Sunday, July 6, 2014. Brazil will face Germany in their World Cup semifinals' match, without superstar soccer player Neymar. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) ORG XMIT: XLC117

Photo: Leo Correa

Brazil's Bernard runs with the ball during a practice session at...

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CORRECTS YEAR OF CHILE WORLD CUP TO 1962 - FILE - This February 1962 file photo, shows Edson Arantes do Nascimento known as Pele, center, trainer Mario Americo, left, and Czech player Masopust. After Neymar's injury in this 2014 Soccer World Cup while playing against Colombia, Brazil remembers when Pele, its best player in the Chile 1962 World Cup was also sidelined because of injury in the tournament, and Brazil still won the title. (AP Photo/File) ORG XMIT: XLAT123

Still coping with the loss of its biggest star, Brazil is trying to find ways to remain upbeat about its prospects at the World Cup.

The medical helicopter that took Neymar home with a back injury also carried away much of the country's hopes for a sixth world title, but the tournament isn't over yet and Brazil is just days away from a difficult semifinal against Germany.

"We have to try to be mature in a moment like this," Brazil defender David Luiz said. "We are sad because we are missing an important player and someone who was trying to fulfill his dream of winning this title."

One of the tournament's main attractions, Neymar had been decisive for Brazil until the devastating injury late in the team's 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarterfinals on Friday. He was crucial on the field and an essential part of the group trying to win the title at home. He was seen as the joyful youngster who was admired and respected by everyone.

A meeting with the team's psychologist was scheduled with the players on Sunday to discuss the striker's absence.

"We will talk about what needs to be done to make sure the players understand that we can still win the World Cup despite of what happened," Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said.

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Brazil doctor Jose Luiz Runco said the players were "shocked and saddened" when they heard Neymar would miss the rest of the World Cup.

"It's sad because we know how hard he worked to be here with us," striker Fred said. "We know how important he was for us. But we have to look at our group and realize that it still has a lot of quality."

Everyone knows it won't be easy replacing Neymar. Brazil thrived when he played well and struggled when he didn't live up to expectations.

"It's difficult to lose a player who is so crucial to our team," veteran right back Maicon said.

It will be up to Scolari to find a replacement for the 22-year-old striker and to keep the team in contention for a sixth world title.

The team's other forwards have been struggling since the competition began, and nobody else in the squad has the characteristics of the Barcelona star.

Instead of using reserve strikers Bernard or Jo, it's likely that Scolari will pick one of his midfielders to play in the match against Germany on Tuesday in Belo Horizonte. Willian, Hernanes and Ramires are the most probable options. Scolari hinted in training Sunday that midfielder Willian is his first option to replace Neymar

Making matters worse for Scolari is the fact that captain and central defender Thiago Silva will also be missing because of a yellow card suspension.

"We don't know who is going to come in, but we know that we have a lot of quality players in our squad," Silva said. "We are sad for Neymar and because I'm not going to play, but we have to be prepared despite these absences."

One way for Brazil to try to stay positive may be to look to its past.

It's not the first time Brazil's national team lost its best player to injury during the World Cup. It happened to Pele and Brazil still won the title.

"I was also injured during the 1962 World Cup in Chile, and I was out for the rest of the tournament," Pele said. "But God helped Brazil continue on to win the championship."

When Pele hurt a muscle in the second match of the tournament in Chile, most in Brazil said the chances of a world title had diminished significantly. But the team won its next four matches to clinch its second consecutive trophy.

"I hope the same will happen with our Selecao in this World Cup," Pele said.

Runco added that Neymar's absence can work in Brazil's favor.

"I think this will help make this group become stronger, it will motivate them to reach the final and win the title," the doctor said. "They will want to honor this teammate who always helped the team."

Notes: The referee who failed to see Luis Suarez bite an opponent has been picked to officiate Brazil's semifinal against Germany. FIFA says on its website that Marco Rodriguez of Mexico will referee the match in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday. Rodriguez has handled two World Cup matches, including Uruguay's 1-0 win against Italy on June 24. ... Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria has been ruled out of the World Cup semifinal against the Netherlands with a thigh injury while striker Sergio Aguero has been declared fit to play after recovering from a similar problem. Di Maria limped off the field in the first half of Argentina's quarterfinal win over Belgium after straining a muscle in the back of his right thigh.